Report: U.S. public schools perform vital missions

Public education plays a vital role in the United States’ democratic society, and the missions of public schools remain essential today, according to a new report by the Washington, DC–based Center on Education Policy. Why We Still Need Public Schools: Public Education for the Common Good highlights the history and importance of public education, and focuses on how and why it came into being; its six core missions including unifying a diverse population, preparing people for democratic citizenship, and ensuring equal opportunities for all children; and why the nation must maintain these missions while pursuing reforms to help all schools live up to these core ideals. Download the report at the Center on Education Policy website.